Fifth-wheel



(No M0de1.)' 2 sheetssheet 1.

W. H. STIGKLE.

FIFTH WHEEL. No. 3,5843. Patented 001',l 1,6y 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. STIGKLE.

FIFTH WHEEL. No. 391,343. Patented Oot. 16, 1888.

WITNESSES, 4

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NrTeD STATES ATENT Trice.

VILLIAM H. STICKLE, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

FIFTH-WHEEL SP'ECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,343, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed April3,1888.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. S'rrcKLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-NVheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view, in perspective, of the under section of the ifth-wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in perspective, of the under side of the top section of the fifth-wheel; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of several parts of the device, Fig. 7 being in section.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My invention has relation to improvements in fifth-wheels; and it consists in certain improvements upon the fifth-wheel for which Letters Patent of the United States No.295,458 were issued to me on the 18th day of March, 1884, as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly referred to.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the top bar or bolster, aud 2 the axle-bed or cap, secured, respectively, to each of which are the upper and lower plates, 3 and 4. These plates are preferably curved in the form of an arc, as shown, plate 3 being provided with a trackway or groove, 5, and extended outer side, 6, and also with perforated projections 7 7, adapted to receive headed bolts 8 8, passing through said projections, and also through the top bar or bolster, wherc they are secured by lock-nuts 9 9. These bolts are of the peculiar form shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the heads thereof being substantially of a semi-cylindrical shape and extending inward-beneath the outer side of upper plate, 3, and also beneath lower plate, 4. By this construction of the bolts 8 8 it will be seen that they are adapted to answer a twofold purpose-viz., to securely connect upper plate, 3, of the fifth-wheel to the top bar or bol- Serial No. 5269.497. (No model.)

ster, 1, and also to serve as a device by which the two sections of the fifth-wheel are kept in 4 properjuxtaposition, and at the saine time to allow of free rotation. Plate 3 is also provided on its upper surface, near each end thereof, with clamping-shoulders 10 10 10 l0, assisting to securely hold the plate in position against the top bar or bolster. The lower plate, 4, is secured to the upper surface of the axle-bed 2 by means of bolts 11 1l, having their heads countersunk in the under side of said axlebed, the other ends thereof extending through the plate and held in position by lock-nuts 12 12. Thelower plate, 4, is further provided with downwardly projecting clamping shoulders 13 13, which engage the top of the axle-bed and assist in securing the lower plate of the fifth-wheel. The circular portion of this lower plate is provided with a central track, 14, adapted to move within the central groove or way ofthe upper plate, the outer extended side of said upper plate overlapping the side of the lower plate, so as to completely hide the same from view.

A central clip, 15, embraces the aXle 16 and axle-bed, and also passes over the lower plate, secured to said axle-bed, being seated therein so as not to protrude above the surface of the plate, said plate being also provided with a rectangular perforation, 17, through which the clip passes. A swivel-plate, 18, passes under the axle 16 at this point and acts as a clip-bar, being provided with perforations through which the reduced ends of the clip pass, said ends being secured on the under side of the swivel-plate by suitable locknuts,19 19. This swivel-plate is also provided with a collar or shoulder, 20, bearing against the inner side of the axle.

Secured to the top bar or bolster, 1, is a brace, 21, preferably of the form shown, the other end thereof being secured to a perch,22, said perch also having secured to the under side thereof aplate, 23. This brace is adapt-ed to securely connect said perch and top bar and to alwaysretain the same relative position between them. Bolts 24 secure the under plate, 23, to the perch, said bolts also passing entirely through the under plate, perch, and

lower end of the brace, thus serving to connect A through a perforation, 26, in the end of the swivel-plate, a bolt,27, in turn passing through said boss or thimble, pivotally securing the perch to the axle. It will be seen that by connecting the axle and perch in this manner the former may be turned independent of the perch, said axle being allowed a free rotating movement, carrying with it the lower section of the fifth-wheel, said lower section, as previously described, being adapted to slide or move within the upper section thereof. The upper angle of the brace 21 is provided with a projecting lip, 28, which passes under the inwardlyprojecting arc portion of the lower plate, 4. By the use of this lip bearing against the under side of the projecting arc the upper and lower sections of the device are still more effectuall y secured and the lower section thereot' kept in contact with the upper section.

It will be seen that the upper plate, '3, is provided with central lugs or ears, 29 29, provided with suitable holes for the reception of bolts 30 30, said bolts also passing through similar holes in a lower connecting plate or bracket, 3l, said connectingplate passing under the lower section of the fifth-wheel, the two parts forming a central tie or coupling, connecting the two sections of the fth-wheel at this point Without in the least detracting from the free rotary motion, the under plate or bracket, 8l, being somewhat curved to conform to the shape of the under side of the lower` plate, 4, so as not to interfere in the least with its movement. Should the plates become worn, thereby causing a rattling, the two arcs may be made to approach each other by simply regulating the bolts 30 30 and 8 8.

From the foregoing description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and construction of this device will be readily understood. It will also be seen that it differs in several important essentials from the device described by me in Letters Patent No. 295,458, dated March 18, 1884. I havein my .present application dispensed entirely with the socalled T-plate deseribed in said Letters Patent, and have substituted the swivel-plate 18, thereby greatly simplifying and improving this part of my invention. It will also be seen that the two sections of the fifth-wheel have been radically changed, the upper section being secured to thetop bar or bolster and provided with a central groove, in which the track ofthe lower section moves, Whereas in my former patent the upper plate or section of the fthwheel is secured to the axle-bed and the lower plate or section directly to the top bar or bolster.

Besides the differences above enumerated, there are changes in several other particulars, which will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The advantages of this device are obvious. By thus constructing the plates one within the vother the strain is not centered in one point,

but is distributed through the two plates, disA pensing with the necessity of aking-bolt. The parts are also firmly secured together in a simple and novel manner by the means already described, at the same time permitting of a free rotating movement of the axle, said axle traveling around with the plate 4 and allowing the wheels to be turned within a small space, and also allowinga person to step in and out of the carriage without coming in con tact with the dirty wheels.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In a fifth-wheel, the combination ot' the central clip, the swivel-plate provided with perforations and having the reduced ends of said clip passing through and secured upon the under side thereof, the lower plate having boss or thimble entering a perforation in the end of the swivel-plate, the pivot-bolt passing through said thimble or boss, the perch, the brace having one end secured to the perch and the other secured, to the top bar or bolster ofthe vehicle, and the bolts for securing the lower plate, perch, and brace together, substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth. Y

2. In a fifth-wheel ot' the described class, the combination, with the upper and lower sections, said lower section being provided with an inwardly-projecting arc, of the brace having projecting lip adapted to pass under the inwardly-projecting arc, substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

3. The combination of the top bar or bolster, the upper plate or section secured thereto and provided with side extensions, grooved under side, and extended outer side, the bolts provided with heads of substantially semicylindrical form, the axle having cap or bed, the lower plate or section secured thereto having central track iitti-ug in the groove or way of the upper section, and also provided with a recessed seat terminating in a slot and an inWardly-extendingarc, the central clip, the swivel-plate provided with pcrforations and having the reduced ends of said clip passing through and secured upon the under side thereof, the lower plate having boss or thimble entering a perforation in the end of the swivel-plate, the pivot-bolt passing through said thimble or boss, the perch, the brace having one end secured to the perch and the other end secured to the top bar and provided with a projecting lip, and the bolts for securing the lower plate, perch, and brace together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. STICKLE.

Ilfitnesses:

SAMUEL C. S'rnvrsou, r ALVIN M. HreGINs.

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